Synthesis process for producing alkylate hydrocarbons

ABSTRACT

Alkylate is produced by catalytically converting oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol, to lower olefins comprising C 2  -C 4  olefins. Ethene is separated by interstage sorption of C 3  + components and an isoparaffin is alkylated with C 3  -C 4  olefins. 
     The improved technique comprises fractionating an olefinic feedstream containing ethene and C 3  + olefinic components by contacting the olefinic feedstream in a sorption zone with a liquid hydrocarbon sorbent to selectively sorb C 3  + components; reacting C 3  + olefins with excess isoparaffin in a catalytic alkylation reactor to produce C 7  + alkylate hydrocarbons; fractionating the alkylation reactor effluent to provide a liquid hydrocarbon fraction rich in C 4  + isoparaffin for recycle to the sorption zone as lean sorbent; and recovering C 7  + alkylate product from the process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an integrated system for converting oxygenates, such as methanol or dimethyl ether (DME), to liquid hydrocarbons. In particular it provides a continuous process for producing C₇ ³⁰ hydrocarbon products by converting the oxygenate feedstock catalytically to an intermediate lower olefinic stream and alkylating isobutane or other isoparaffins with olefins to produce light distillate and/or gasoline products.

In order to provide an adequate supply of liquid hydrocarbons for use as synfuels or chemical feedstocks, various processes have been developed for converting coal and natural gas to gasoline and distillate. A substantial body of technology has grown to provide oxygenated intermediates, especially methanol. Large scale plants can convert methanol or similar aliphatic oxygenates to liquid fuels, especially gasoline. However, the demand for heavier hydrocarbons has led to the development of processes for making diesel fuel by a multi-stage technique.

Recent developments in zeolite catalysts and hydrocarbon conversion processes have created interest in utilizing olefinic feedstocks, for producing C₅ ⁺ gasoline, diesel fuel, etc. In addition to the basic work derived from ZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts, a number of discoveries have contributed to the development of new industrial processes.

The medium pore ZSM-5 type catalysts are useful for converting methanol and other lower aliphatic alcohols or corresponding ethers to olefins. Particular interest has been directed to a catalytic process for converting low cost methanol to valuable hydrocarbons rich in ethene and C₃ ⁺ alkenes. Various processes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,107 (Butter et al.), 3,928,483 (Chang et al.), 4,025,571 (Lago), 4,423,274 (Daviduk et al.) and 4,433,189 (Young), incorporated herein by reference. It is generally known that the MTO process can be optimized to produce a major fraction of C₂ -C₄ olefins. Prior process proposals have included a separation section to recover ethene and other gases from byproduct water and C₅ ⁺ hydrocarbon liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been discovered that methanol, DME or the like may be converted to liquid fuels, particularly alkylate, in a multi-stage continuous process, with integration between the major process units providing an ethene-rich recycle stream for further conversion and an alkylate recycle stream for interstage sorption. The initial stage MTO type process hydrocarbon effluent stream, after byproduct water removal, compression separation, sorption and fractionation, can be fed to an alkylation stage for conversion to heavier hydrocarbons. Ethene may be recovered by interstage separation and recycled. Advantageously, the recycled ethene is found to be reactive with methanol-DME or other oxygenates in the presence of ZSM-5 type catalysts. In effect a novel MTO-Alkylation system is provided wherein the ethene component may be recycled sustantially to extinction.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides processes and apparatus for an integrated continuous technique for converting oxygenated organic feedstock to liquid alkylate hydrocarbons comprising methods and means for

contacting the feedstock with zeolite catalyst in a primary catalyst stage at elevated temperature and moderate pressure to convert feedstock to light hydrocarbons comprising ethene and C₃ + olefin components;

fractionating the light hydrocarbons in a sorption fractionation unit in contact with a liquid C₄ ⁺ isoparaffinic sorbent to selectively sorb C₃ ⁺ olefin;

fractionating C₃ + sorbate to recover C₅ + gasoline and provide a C₃ -C₄ olefin rich stream;

reacting the isoparaffin and C₃ -C₄ olefin streams in an alkylation reactor in the presence of acid alkylation catalyst to produce C₇ + paraffinic alkylate;

separating the alkylation reactor effluent to obtain unreacted C₄ + isoparaffin and C₇ + alkylate product and

recycling at least a portion of the C₄ + isoparaffin to the sorption fractionation unit as lean sorbent.

Preferably the isoparaffinic sorbent comprises at least 50 wt % isobutane (i-C₄ herein).

Advantageously, the primary stage catalyst comprises ZSM-5 type zeolite and ethene is recycled to the primary stage at a rate of about 1 to 20 parts ethene per 100 parts by weight of methanol equivalent in the feedstock. By fractionating gaseous effluent separated from the primary staged effluent, a recycle gas stream may be recovered containing at least 90% of ethene from the primary catalytic stage. An olefinic stream rich in C₃ ⁺ olefins, especially propene and butylenes, is provided for reaction with various isoparaffins, such as isobutane.

Other objects and features of the invention will be seen in the following description and drawings.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a process flow sheet showing the major unit operations and process streams;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a preferred inter-stage separation system for ethene recovery; and

FIG. 3 is an alternative process flow sheet depicting sorption, fractionation and alkylation units schematically.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Numerous oxygenated organic compounds may be contained in the feedstock material to be converted in the primary stage. Since methanol or its ether derivative (DME) are industrial commodities available from synthesis gas or the like, these materials are utilized in the description herein as preferred starting materials. It is understood by those skilled in the art that MTO-type processes can employ methanol, dimethylether and mixtures thereof, as well as other aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ketones and/or aldehydes. It is known in the art to partially convert oxygenates by dehydration, as in the catalytic reaction of methanol over gamma-alumina to produce DME intermediate. Typically, an equilibrium mixture (CH₃ OH+CH₃ OCH₃ +H₂ O) is produced by partial dehydration. This reaction takes place in either conversion of methanol to lower olefins (MTO) or methanol to gasoline (MTG).

The zeolite catalysts preferred for use herein include the crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12, a constraint index of about 1 to 12 and acid cracking activity of about 1-200. Representative of the ZSM-5 type zeolites are ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35 and ZSM-38. ZSM-5 is disclosed and claims in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,702,886 and Re. 29,948; ZSM-11 is disclosed and claimed in 3,709,979. Also, see 3,832,449 for ZSM-12; 4,076,979. Also, see 3,832,449 for ZSM-12; 4,076,842 for ZSM-23; 4,016,245 for ZSM-35 and 4,046,839 for ZSM-38. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. A suitable catalyst for oxygenate conversion is HZSM-5 zeolite with alumina binder. These medium pore shape selective catalysts are sometimes known as porotectosilicates or "pentasil" catalysts.

Other catalysts and processes suitable for converting methanol/DME to lower olefins are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,393,265 (Bonifaz), 4,387,263 (Vogt et al.) and European patent application No. 0081683 (Marosi et al.), and ZSM-45. In addition to the preferred aluminosilicates, the borosilicate, ferrosilicate and "silicalite" materials may be employed. ZSM-5 type catalysts are particularly advantageous because the same material may be employed for dehydration of methanol to DME, conversion to lower olefins and ethylene conversion.

In this description, metric units and parts by weight are employed unless otherwise stated. Various reactor configurations may be used, including fluidized bed catalytic reactors, moving bed and fixed bed reactors.

Referring to FIG. 1, the process feedstock (methanol or DME, for instance) is fed to the primary MTO stage (I) where it is converted to lower olefins and C₅ + gasoline hydrocarbon plus water by dehydration of the oxygenated feedstock. Byproduct water is recovered by simple phase separation from the cooled effluent. Liquid hydrocarbons consisting essentially of C₅ ⁺ gasoline range materials may be recovered or pumped to the higher secondary stage pressure. Vapor phase effluent from the primary stage may be compressed to alkylation reaction pressure. Propene, butylenes and amylenes may be separated from primary stage effluent by sorption fractionation to recover a recycle gas stream containing at least 90% of ethene from the primary catalytic stage and an olefinic sorbate stream rich in C₃ + olefins. A C₃ -C₄ rich olefinic stream may be further prepared for reaction with isobutane or the like at high pressure and low temperature in contact with liquid phase acidic alkylation catalyst. Secondary stage (II) alkylation effluent is then separated into C₃ ⁻ light gases. -C₄ aliphatics and C₅ ⁺ gasoline and/or light distillate range hydrocarbons. Advantageously, isobutane is separated from the second stage effluent for recycle to provide a stoichiometric excess. Isoparaffin may be added as fresh (makeup) feed directly to the alkylation unit or introduced as lean sorbent unit. A portion of the liquid C₄ + isoparaffin-rich hydrocarbon is recycled to the interstage sorption unit as lean sorbent. The preferred sorption unit is a countercurrent packed tower. Advantageously, the sorbent liquid comprises at least 50 wt % of C₄ to C₆ isoparaffins, especially the reactive tertiary alkanes such as i-C₄. This lean sorbent has excellent properties for selective sorption of the propene, butylene and C₃ + paraffinic components of the primary stage light hydrocarbons. Unfractionated liquid alkylation effluent may be recycled in part, as depicted by dashed line.

The process may be optimized by employing fluid bed primary stage conditions in the temperature range of about 425° C. to 550° C., a pressure range of about 100 to 800 kPa and weight hourly space velocity range of about 0.5 to 3.0 based on ZSM--5 equivalent catalyst and methanol equivalent in the primary stage feedstock. Suitable equipment and operating conditions are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 687,045, filed Dec. 28, 1984, incorporated herein by reference.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the light hydrocarbon vapor stream separated from the primary stage effluent is compressed in a plurality of compression stages to condense liquid olefinic hydrocarbons. The full reaction effluent of the primary stage MTO plant is passed via conduit 201 and primary phase separator 202 to provide a first vapor stream rich in C₄ -hydrocarbons, liquid hydrocarbons stream, and byproduct water stream. The liquid (e.g.-C₅ ⁺) stream is combined with a correponding liquid HC from succeeding separators and withdrawn. The primary vapor stream is adiabatically compressed by multi-stage compressor means 205, cooled via exchanger 206 and passed to a succeeding separator 204A, at which point the preceeding phase separation technique is repeated. Likewise other separators 204B and 204C operate to provide an ethene-rich recycle stream which is passed via line 214 to turbo-expander 209 and thus at MTO pressure back via line 211 to the olefins production in the primary stage. Advantageously, the MTO effluent is received at about atmospheric pressure (e.g., 100-150 kPa) and compressed in plural stages to a pressure of about 1100-3500 kPa (150-400 psig) and separated in the final vessel 204C at about ambient temperature (20°-60° C.). Olefinic liquids rich in C₃ ⁺ aliphatic are recovered from the final compressor stage via and may be further processed in absorber 218. Pump 208 passes the liquid hydrocarbon stream to the following secondary stage alkylation unit.

Ethene-rich vapor withdrawn from the separator 204C via line 213 is cooled by heat exchange and further processed to increase ethene purity in sorption unit 216. A suitable selective sorption unit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,968 (Hsia et al), incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, compressed light hydrocarbons are fractionated by sorption to recover a recycle stream containing at least 90 mole percent ethene. This can be achieved by selectively absorbing C₃ ⁺ components in a C₄ ⁺ liquid hydrocarbon sorbent stream, especially C₄ to C₆ isoparaffins.

Interstage fractionation can be modified within the inventive concept to provide for recovery of purified ethylene (C₂ H₂) and heavier hydrocarbon liquids. In FIG. 3, a sorption fractionator unit 318, comprising a vertical countercurrent contact tower, is equipped with a bottom reboiler means 319. Sorbent liquid, rich in C₄ to C₆ isoparaffins, is introduced via conduit 320. Optionally, other C₄ + liquids may be employed to supplement the alkylate stream. A light olefin feedstream containing C₂ -C₄ alkenes is introduced via vapor conduit V and liquid conduit L. The sorber overhead may contain 90% or more ethene, which can be further purified by cryogenic separation unit 330 to remove any remaining C₃ + hydrocarbons and thus to recover pure ethene. The sorbate stream 325, rich in C₃ -C₄ alkenes, is fractionated in distillation tower 340 to recover gasoline range hydrocarbons. This tower may be operated to obtain a heavy C₆ product, with C₅ components passing either overhead or with the bottoms. Optionally, this overhead fraction is de-ethanized by tower 345, and the liquified sorbate fraction, rich in C₃ -C₄ components is combined with C₃ + components from the cryogenic separation unit and fed at high pressure (e.g., about 1500 to 3000 kPa) to alkylation reactor unit 350, where it is contacted with a makeup isoparaffin, such as isobutane (i-C₄), in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce alkylate hydrocarbons. The alkylation fractionation system 360 may be operated in a known manner to separate the reactor effluent into several fractions, including i-C₄ recycle to provide sorbent and excess isoparaffin, light gas (C₃ ⁻), normal paraffin (n-C₄) and C₅ + liquid alkylate product. At least a portion of the i-C₄ component is passed via conduit 320 to the sorption fractionator unit as lean sorbent. Recovered C₅ + liquids from fractionation unit 360 may be further refined to recover aviation gasoline, light distillate, etc. If additional sorbent liquid is required, a bottom fraction from unit 340 may be utilized, as indicated by dashed line 342. However, it is preferred to employ sorbent comprising a major amount of C₄ -C₆ isoparaffin hydrocarbons, particularly at least 50% tertiary alkane.

The data in Table I represents a material balance and absorber operating conditions for a countercurrent contact tower unit design according to FIG. 3 and Runs 1-3. The vertical tower has 24 theoretical stages, with C₆ + gasoline lean oil from the interstage sorbate fractionator being introduced at the top (stage 1), C₅ + heavy liquid separated from MTO effluent being fed on a second lean oil at stage 4, isobutane being fed to stage 7, olefin vapor and liquid feed being fed at stages 14 and 15 respectively. Heat of sorption is removed by pumparound cooling at stages 5 and 8. The three runs correspond to different lean oil rates. In the overhead stream, molar units are gm-moles per metric tonne (MT) of methanol charged to the process. The operating conditions are chosen to provide a maximum ethene content of 0.2 mol % in the sorbate.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Absorber Operation                                                             Run No.        1         2         3                                           ______________________________________                                         Material Balance                                                               wt % of MeOH charge                                                            (1) C.sub.6 + MTO Gasoline                                                                    11.5      11.5      11.5                                        (2) Alkylate   57.8      57.7      57.6                                        (3) n-butane   0.6       0.6       0.6                                         (4) propane    4.3       4.3       4.3                                         (5) offgas     1.5       1.5       1.6                                         (6) water      56.4      56.4      56.4                                        (7) i-C.sub.4 makeup                                                                          -32.1     -32.0     -32.0                                       (8) methanol   -100.0    -100.0    -100.0                                      Absorber Operation*                                                            Lean Oil #1 (stage 1)                                                                         MTO       MTO       MTO                                         g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            Gasoline  Gasoline  Gasoline                                                   1.09      0.32      0.22                                        Lean Oil #2 (stage 4)                                                                         MTO       MTO       MTO                                         g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            Heavy     Heavy     Heavy                                                      Olef. Liq.                                                                               Olef. Liq.                                                                               Olef. Liq.                                                 1.01      1.01      1.01                                        Lean Oil #3 (stage 7)                                                                         iso-butane                                                                               iso-butane                                                                               iso-butane                                  g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            recycle   recycle   recycle                                                    3.65      1.12      0.62                                        TOTAL          5.45      2.45      1.85                                        overhead flow, SCM/tonne                                                                      42.0      45.3      48.7                                        MeOH                                                                           propane, g-moles/                                                                             9.2       23.7      29.5                                        tonne MeOH                                                                     propylene      20.1      106.0     225.6                                       n-butane       0.1       1.0       1.5                                         isobutane      3.1       22.8      31.6                                        l-butylene     1.5       13.1      21.5                                        n-pentanes     0.3       0.4       0.4                                         iso-pentanes   0.4       0.9       1.4                                         pentanes       1.9       2.4       3.8                                         C.sub.6 +      22.6      22.2      22.0                                        Overhead pressure, kPa                                                                        2068      2068      2068                                        Cooling pump around,                                                                          -62.1     -47.8     -41.0                                       MJ/tonne MeOH                                                                  Reboiler Duty  157.0     104.3     93.7                                        MJ/tonne MeOH                                                                  Ethylene recovery from                                                         overhead                                                                       g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            937       938       938                                         Mole % purity  53        49        46                                          ______________________________________                                          *based on 0.2 Mol % C.sub.2 in bottoms                                   

Runs 4 to 6 (Table II) are similar to Runs 1 to 3 except that the second column has 28 theoretical stages, and isobutane is introduced as the second lean oil only in stage 5.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Absorber Operation                                                             Run No.        4         5         6                                           ______________________________________                                         Material Balance                                                               wt % of MeOH charge                                                            (1) C.sub.6 + MTO gasoline                                                                    11.5      11.5      11.5                                        (2) Alkylate   58.0      58.0      58.0                                        (3) n-butane   0.6       0.6       0.6                                         (4) propane    4.1       4.0       3.9                                         (5) offgas     1.5       1.6       1.6                                         (6) water      56.4      56.4      56.4                                        (7) iC.sub.4 makeup                                                                           -32.1     -32.1     -32.0                                       (8) methanol   -100.0    -100.0    -100.0                                      Absorber Operation*                                                            Lean Oil #1    Iso-butane                                                                               Iso-butane                                                                               Iso-butane                                  g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            3.34      1.09      0.54                                        Lean Oil #2    MTO       MTO       MTO                                         g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            Heavy     Heavy     Heavy                                                      Olef. Liq.                                                                               Olef. Liq.                                                                               Olef. Liq.                                                 1.01      1.01      1.01                                        TOTAL          4.35      2.10      1.55                                        Overhead flow, 45.7      46.7      50.2                                        SCM/ton MeOH                                                                   propene, g-moles/                                                                             35.1      31.2      32.0                                        tonne MeOH                                                                     propylene      36.7      97.1      249.2                                       n-butane       3.3       2.7       2.5                                         isobutane      70.3      53.9      43.7                                        i-butylene     35.0      35.7      36.5                                        n-pentanes     0.6       0.6       0.6                                         iso-pentanes   4.9       5.0       5.0                                         pentenes       13.0      13.2      13.5                                        C.sub.6 +      11.5      13.0      13.3                                        Overhead pressure, kPa                                                                        2068      2068      2068                                        Cooling Pump around,                                                                          -54.7     -39.5     -31.9                                       MJ/tonne MeOH                                                                  Reboiler Duty, MJ/                                                                            131.7     95.0      85.6                                        tonne MeOH                                                                     Ethylene recovery from                                                         overhead                                                                       g-moles/tonne MeOH                                                                            938       939       939                                         Mole % purity  49        48        44                                          ______________________________________                                          *based on 0.2 mol % C.sub.2 in bottoms                                   

The alkylation process employed herein is a well known industrial technique for reacting alkenes with tertiary alkanes (isoparaffins), such as isobutane, isopentane, isohexane, etc. The resulting product is a C₇ ⁺ branched chain paraffinic material useful as aviation gasoline, jet fuel or the like. The alkylation of paraffins can be carried out either thermally or catalytically; however, acid catalyst is preferred. Thermal or noncatalytic alkylation of a paraffin with an olefin is carried out at high temperatures (about 500° C.) and pressures 21-41 MPa (3000-6000 psi). Under these conditions, both normal and isoparaffins can be brought into reaction by a free-radical mechanism. Thermal alkylation is not known to be practiced commercially.

The catalytic alkylation of paraffins involves the addition of an isoparaffin containing a tertiary hydrogen to an olefin. The process is used in the petroleum industry to prepare highly branched paraffins mainly in the C₇ to C₉ range, that are high-quality fuels. The overall process is complex, requiring control of operating conditions and of catalyst. The process conditions and the product composition depend on the particular hydrocarbons involved.

The preferred processes are those brought about by the conventional protonic and Lewis catalysts. Propene can be brought into reaction with an isoparaffin in the presence of either concentrated sulfuric acid or hydrogen fluoride. The heptanes produced by alkylation of isobutane with propene are mainly 2,3- and 2,4-dimethylpentane. Propene is alkylated preferrably as a component of a C₃ -C₄ fraction. HF catalysts for alkylation of isobutane with 1- and 2-butenes give both dimethylhexanes and trimethylpentanes. The product obtained from alkylation of isobutane with isobutylene at low temperature (e.g., -25° C.) with hydrogen fluoride is 2,2,4-trimethylpentane.

During use the acid catalysts may become diluted with byproduct hydrocarbons and as a result decrease in activity. Sulfuric acid concentrations are maintained at about 90%. Hydrogen fluoride concentrations of 80-90% are common, although the optimum concentration depends on the reaction temperature and reactor geometry. Operation below these acid concentrations generally causes incomplete conversion or polymerization. With sulfuric acid, the product quality is improved when temperatures are reduced to the range of 0°-10° C. Cooling requirements are obtained by low temperature flashing of unreacted isobutane. With hydrogen fluoride, the reaction process is less sensitive to temperature, and temperatures of 0°-40° C. can be used. Some form of heat removal is essential because the heat of reaction is approximately 14×10⁵ J/kg (600 Btu/lb) of butenes converted. Typically the elevated pressure for alkylation by these acid catalysts is about 1500 to 3000 kPa (200-300 psig).

In order to prevent polymerization of the olefin as charged, an excess of isobutane is present in the reaction zone. Isobutane-to-olefin molar ratios of 6:1 to 14:1 are common, more effective suppression of side reactions being produced by the higher ratios.

The typical alkylation reaction employs a two-phase system with a low solubility of the isobutane in the catalyst phase. In order to ensure intimate contact of reactants and catalyst, efficient mixing is provided. This is important with sulfuric acid because of the low solubility of isobutane in the catalyst phase. In addition, the higher viscosity of the sulfuric acid requires a greater mixing energy to assure good contact. The solubility of the hydrocarbon reactants in the catalyst phase is increased by the presence of the unsaturated organic diluent held by the acid catalyst. This organic diluent also has been considered a source of carbonium ions that promote the alkylation reaction.

For the hydrofluoric acid system, reactive i-C₄ H₈ readily alkylates to give an excellent product. The alkylation of pure 1-C₄ H₈ by itself proceeds with considerable isomerization of the 1-C₄ H₈ to 2-C₄ H₈ followed by alkylation to give a highly branched product. The presence of i-C₄ H₈ accelerates the alkylation reaction and allows less time for olefin isomerization. Consequently the reaction produces an alkylate with a lowered antiknock value. For the sulfuric acid system, i-C₄ H₈ tends to oligomerize and causes other side reaction products of inferior quality; but the isomerization of 1-C₄ H₈ to 2-C₄ H₈ proceeds more completely, thereby favoring formation of superior products. Thus for mixed olefin feeds such as described above, the two factors with both catalyst systems counteract each other to provide products of similar antiknock properties.

The olefin-producing MTO process may simultaneously generate isobutane, but the amount may be insufficient to alkylate the coproduced olefins. A suitable outside source of isobutane is natural gas or a byproduct of methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) processes.

Suitable alkylation processes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,879,489 (Yurchak et al.), 4,115,471 (Kesler), 4,377,721 (Chester) and in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 2, pp. 50-58 (3rd Ed., 1978) John Wiley & Sons, incorporated herein by reference.

The combined processes are an effective means for converting oxygenated organic compounds, such as methanol, DME, lower aliphatic ketones, aldehydes, esters, etc, to valuable hydrocarbon products. Thermal integration is achieved by employing heat exchangers between various process streams, towers, absorbers, etc.

Various modifications can be made to the system, especially in the choice of equipment and non-critical processing steps. While the invention has been described by specific examples, there is no intent to limit the inventive concept as set forth in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A process for converting oxygenate feedstock comprising methanol, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof to liquid hydrocarbons comprising the steps ofcontacting the feedstock with zeolite catalyst in a primary catalyst stage at elevated temperature and moderate pressure to convert feedstock to light hydrocarbons comprising ethene and C₃ + olefin components; fractionating the light hydrocarbons in a sorption fractionation unit in contact with a liquid C₄ + isoparaffinic sorbent to selectively sorb C₃ + olefin; fractionating C₃ + sorbate to recover C₅ + gasoline and provide a C₃ -C₄ olefin rich stream; reacting a portion of the C₄ + isoparaffin with the C₃ -C₄ olefin stream in an alkylation reactor in the presence of acid alkylation catalyst to produce C₇ + paraffinic alkylate; separating the alkylation reactor effluent to obtain unreacted C₄ + isoparaffin and C₇ + alkylate product; and recycling at least a portion of the unreacted C₄ + isoparaffin to the sorption fractionation unit as lean sorbent.
 2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps ofcooling and separating effluent from the primary stage to recover a C₅ + heavy liquid hydrocarbon stream, byproduct water and a light hydrocarbon vapor stream rich in C₂ -C₄ olefins; compressing the olefinic light hydrocarbon vapor stream to condense a liquid olefinic hydrocarbon stream rich in C₃ + olefins and provide an ethene-rich light hydrocarbon gaseous stream as vapor feed to the sorption fractionation unit.
 3. The process of claim 1 further comprisingrecycling ethene in a gaseous stream to the primary catalytic stage.
 4. The process of claim 1 comprising the step ofreacting olefinic isoparaffin sorbate with a tertiary alkane in the secondary catalytic alkylation reactor with acid alkylation catalyst at substantially increased pressure under liquid conditions to convert at least a portion of olefins to a heavier liquid hydrocarbon product stream comprising alkylate gasoline and/or distillate range liquids.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein primary stage feedstock is converted over HZSM-5 catalyst to provide a light olefinic hydrocarbon vapor stream comprising a major amount of C₃ -C₄ olefins and a minor amount of ethene.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein isobutane is reacted with propene and/or butylene in the alkylation reactor in the presence of a liquid phase acid catalyst at a pressure of about 1500 to 3000 kPa.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein gaseous effluent is separated from primary stage effluent by sorption fractionation to recover a recycle gas stream containing at least 90% of ethene from the primary catalytic stage and an olefinic sorbate stream rich in C₃ + olefins.
 8. The process of claim 1 wherein fresh isoparaffin is introduced to the sorption fractionation unit as liquid sorbent.
 9. The process of claim 2 wherein the isoparaffin sorbent contains at least 50 wt % sobutane and includes C₅ + heavy liquid recovered from the primary stage; and wherein the sorbate is fractionated between reaction stages to recover gasoline and a C₃ -C₄ olefin rich stream.
 10. In the process for producing alkylate hydrocarbons by catalytic reaction of isoparaffin with lower olefin, the improvement which comprises:fractionating an olefinic feedstream containing ethene and C₃ ⁺ olefinic components by contacting the olefinic feedstream in a sorption zone with a liquid C₄ ⁺ isoparaffinic hydrocarbon sorbent to selectively sorb C₃ ⁺ components; reacting C₃ ⁺ olefins with excess isoparaffin in a catalytic alkylation reactor to produce C₇ + alkylate hydrocarbons; fractionating the alkylation reactor effluent to provide a liquid hydrocarbon fraction rich in C₄ + isoparaffin and a C₇ + alkylate product fraction; recycling said C₄ + liquid isoparaffin fraction to the sorption zone as lean sorbent; and recovering C₇ + alkylate product from the process.
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the alkylation reactor effluent is fractionated to provide an isobutane rich recycle stream for use as lean sorbent and further conversion in the alkylation reactor.
 12. The process of claim 1 wherein the alkylation catalyst comprises hydrofluoric acid and the reactor is operated at pressure of about 1500 to 3000 kPa to provide a liquid reaction phase.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the isoparaffin consists essentially of isobutane and the sorbent contains at least 75 weight percent of C₄ paraffinic hydrocarbons.
 14. The process of claim 10 wherein a portion of the alkylation reactor effluent stream containing isobutane and alkylate is recycled as sorbent.
 15. The process of claim 10 wherein the olefinic feedstream is produced by catalytic conversion of methanol over ZSM-5 catalyst at elevated pressure and wherein ethene is recovered from the sorption zone and said recovered ethene is contacted with the catalyst for further conversion with methanol.
 16. The process of claim 15 wherein the alkylation catalyst comprises hydrofluoric acid and the reactor is operated at pressure of about 1500 to 3000 kPa to provide a liquid reaction phase.
 17. The process of claim 16 wherein the isoparaffin consists essentially of isobutane and the sorbent contains at least 75 weight percent of C₇ to C₉ paraffinic hydrocarbons. 